When Qualcomm introduced its Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc know-how that will enable Android cellphone makers to compete with Apple’s Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc, I used to be fairly positive we would see the function on Samsung’s upcoming S23 telephones.
I imply, why would not we? Qualcomm has mentioned the function shall be obtainable this yr for telephones utilizing its Snapdragon eight Gen 2 processor, and Samsung is launching its first main Android flagship in 2023 with that processor — it is positive to incorporate this doubtlessly life-saving performance, as do analysts. they’ve been predicting for months.
After which Samsung’s Unpacked occasion got here and went, with no point out of satellite tv for pc messaging and CNET posted an interview with TM Roh, president and head of Samsung’s cell expertise enterprise, the place he says this concerning the know-how: “when the time is correct, the infrastructure and know-how [is] OK, then in fact for Samsung Galaxy, for our cell division, we might actively take into account adopting this function as effectively.”
I am sorry, what universe am I in? Samsung, which has a historical past of cramming its feature-packed telephones as quickly as attainable, says “we’ll wait till the know-how is prepared,” whereas iPhone customers are already utilizing it. (Okay, technically an identical model of this; Qualcomm’s know-how will use the Iridium satellite tv for pc community, whereas Apple has partnered with Globalstar. There are variations, however each assist you to ship messages whenever you’re not close to a cell tower.)
Roh continued, saying he would not imagine the flexibility to ship messages through satellites “is the be-all or end-all to offering peace of thoughts for customers.”
It appears to me a really unusual interpretation. Certain, there are absolute limits to the satellite tv for pc connection; it will get lots shallower when you’re surrounded by bushes, which is, you recognize, the place quite a lot of outside recreation occurs, and the knowledge you are sending could be fairly restricted.
And even when you’re sitting underneath a transparent sky, sending a textual content might require a little bit dancing to level your cellphone at a satellite tv for pc — one thing that will be tough when you had a critical medical emergency. However there are additionally loads of emergency conditions the place these limitations would not be a priority and the place the know-how might actually save somebody’s life.
For the reason that launch of the iPhone 14, we have seen a minimum of 5 individuals rescued after contacting emergency companies through satellite tv for pc, with every incident producing quite a lot of information. Search and rescue operators have referred to as this function a sport changer. It is onerous to think about any advert marketing campaign more practical than the protection Apple has, and Samsung simply…is not competing right here.
Bear in mind Apple’s three-minute “Expensive Apple” video from final fall’s occasion? It’s sure that the corporate will line up an identical reel for its subsequent cell occasion, with individuals who had satellite tv for pc connection save the day. It simply would not really feel like Samsung is giving up any floor, irrespective of how sometimes an occasion is required. And I do not suppose individuals speaking about how they managed to take an image with the 200MP Extremely digicam, or how their S23’s battery lasts a little bit longer than the S22’s, goes to make a really convincing video.
I notice I could also be over-indexing on how a lot the final inhabitants cares about off-the-grid communication as somebody who each covers connectivity for a residing and spends quite a lot of time away from cell protection doing harmful issues. (That final half was a joke, mother.) However I feel this function shall be a notable absence in spec comparisons, particularly if different Android telephones begin launching with Qualcomm’s know-how, which he mentioned must be launched within the second half. from 2023.
I notice this may look like an apparent rationalization for why the S23 apparently cannot speak to satellites; Samsung hasn’t included the function as a result of it is not prepared but. However so far as I can inform, Qualcomm is utilizing the hardware obtainable in the present day, so Samsung might have built-in it and mentioned that satellite tv for pc messaging is coming through a software program replace later this yr. (I’ve requested Qualcomm if that is attainable and can let you recognize if I hear again.)
Additionally bear in mind, Roh didn’t say that Samsung he couldn’t construct it – roughly mentioned he is simply not proper now. This is able to be an odd reply if the know-how just isn’t but obtainable.
Even when Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc is rarely obtainable on the S23, there’s an opportunity that telephones will be capable to speak to satellites sooner or later. Corporations like T-Cellular, SpaceX, AST and Lynk are promising satellite tv for pc connectivity that makes use of common 5G spectrum relatively than devoted hardware like Apple and Qualcomm’s options. Whereas these in all probability will not be commercially obtainable for some time, a minimum of it means extra individuals may be capable to unfold the phrase in future emergencies. However Samsung is attempting to promote telephones nowand it simply gave a few of its largest rivals a definite benefit.